How can I make it look better?? '86 C10

[98Murray]

Hello everyone. I have a 1986 C10 Silverado and I love this truck but I am wanting to make it look better or perhaps a bit different than the other C10s I see locally. Of course the two tone paint does a good job of it but other than the running boards this thing is all stock. What can I do to improve the trucks look while still keeping it very driveable and reliable?

[Redneck Rydes]

Loose the running boards,get all the body side mouldings back on, front bumper guards, smoothie rear bumper, white lettered tires, other than that, I would not change a thing, looks great the way it is,all in the eye of the beowner

[sweetk30]

Originally Posted by Redneck Rydes

Loose the running boards,get all the body side mouldings back on, front bumper guards, smoothie rear bumper, white lettered tires, other than that, I would not change a thing, looks great the way it is,all in the eye of the beowner

about the same here .

and get a white letter tire thats solid white NOT pin white . and says somthing good NOT xr5000 radial sports . . . . i like cooper / bfg / few others in the way they do there white letters . they look good and read good . and look timeless classic still .

my 2wd will be getting BFG radial t/a soldi white letters .

[cadillac_al]

I agree with all of the above. New wheels will give it some bling and Micky Thompson makes white letter tires too.

[mongocanfly]

everything they said....and id probably also swap tires and wheels and ad a little drop...

[Killer Bee]

personally, I like it the way it sits but I'll throw in a couple of ideas..

pin stripe/paint the moldings
billet or painted tube or fin grill insert
remove running boards [unless needed]
80's era cragars or centerlines rwl or bw tires

good luck!

[tviolette]

Looks nice but I think you're right. a few things couldn't hurt.
Here's my thoughts...
-Never liked the two-tone color schemes much
-Obviously the trim too
-Old school rims and tires (white lettered)
-Tonneau Cover
-Smooth rear bumper

[Dead Parrot]

Look through this thread for ideas: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=559362

If that camping trailer is your main thing towed, consider removing the hitch and using the bumper itself. If it is OEM or equivalent, it is at least a 3000 lb tow rating. IIRC, you could get bumpers with 5K and maybe even 10K tow rating. Back before the Feds started mandating bumper designs. Since most folks have hitches now, NOT having one would be different.

If you camp a lot, lowering may not be a good option. Or if your roads are like a lot of them around here.

While I don't like the idea of changing paint that seems in good shape, maybe changing the gray to a color that pops a bit more.

Maybe a semi-decorative headache rack. Just in case the bicycles get loose.

[TKCR]

I agree with most of the comments:
1) Take the running board off
2) Swap the rear bumper for a sport bumper
3) Get all your body molding back on the truck
4) New wheels and tires ALWAYS makes a big difference in how the truck looks
5) Keep the Grille!! It can always be taken off and restored to look new again.
6) Maybe a tonneau cover

[TKCR]

Have any interior pictures?

[andyh1956]

I'm like everbody else- get rid them Runnin Boards!
Turn your tires around, install the trim & a sliding back glass!

[straight6chevyguy]

I think It looks great the way it is.
sometimes stock trucks are the best trucks.

I think the white walls look good but white lettering tires would look good too

Maybe add a cb radio and a police scanner and your good to go!

[Loco83]

As the others have stated lose all the body tack on's, get a sport bumper and some raised letter TA's, lastly get her polished and waxed.

[98Murray]

Thanks for all the replies everyone!!

The running boards are not needed and I have been planning on removing them.

I no longer have my pop up camper and I only tow a small 5.5x10 utility trailer with not much weight. I have been planning on removing the receiver hitch because of this and also because it gets in the way of my spare tire and I am tired of carrying it in the bed and would like to put it back under the truck.

I have thought about getting a different rear bumper but I still want a step bumper. The bumper I have works fine but its a bit big on the truck I think.

I have planned on getting some Cooper Cobra white letter tires for her. What size should I get though? I am thinking of possibly lowering the truck just a tad little bit. I am also undecided on the wheels. I dont want some massive 18s or 20s. I like the factory size and I may step up to like 16s or possiby even 17s if I found a nice look. I need to poke around this forum a bit to find some other wheels. I know mine need repainted and I am not the biggest fan of the massive 3" wide trim rings that love to fly off every time I hit a rumble strip on the highway.

I have thought of a bed cover but with all the diamond plate it has going on back there I am not sure if I want to leave it exposed or cover it all up.

I am not a huge fan of sliding rear windows so that probably wont change.

I do need a new front valance since mine is missing. I also like the factory grille quite a lot honestly.

Originally the truck was solid blue but the original owner had it repainted in the late 90's early 2000's and had the gray in the middle added. Personally I like it. Most all the other C10s around here are solid color and I have one of very few two tones. I agree it could be a different shade and it could look better but a repaint is a bit out of the budget right now.

Its a really great truck and it only gets drove on nicer days. I have a '68 F100 for all the dirty work. The C10 is more of a play toy.

Heres some photos I took today with my better camera. I know shes dusty and dirty. I have not gotten her out of the garage in some time.

[Redneck Rydes]

Interior looks great.My 1985 was the same blue/grey, the PO painted the grey white. When I do mine over,going to go all one color,and body side mouldings.

[98Murray]

I realize now after uploading the photos that the sun is just ruining those pics so i took a few more in the driveway where its not so bad.

[TKCR]

Interior looks awesome!! You can check out my build thread, I didnt like my wheels & tires, there were 20’s. I went with 18’s. I like more tire than those skinny wheels, on the 20’s. And it rides a lot nicer now too.

[98Murray]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Interior looks awesome!! You can check out my build thread, I didnt like my wheels & tires, there were 20’s. I went with 18’s. I like more tire than those skinny wheels, on the 20’s. And it rides a lot nicer now too.

I just looked through your thread. What a fantastic truck! You sir have very good taste!

[sweetk30]

255/70/15 tire size will fill the wheel well good and fat look on stock rims .

here is my truck down 2.5 on drop spindles in the front with roller half worn 31x10.50x15 tires .

plan is the 255/70/15 bfg radial t/a . . . couldnt find my test fit pic on the truck sorry .

[Killer Bee]

^ oh boy, if I had a dollar for every BFG Radial T/A I burned to the steel I'd be rich

great tire choice for period look and performance!

[Dead Parrot]

Nice interior. Hard to tell if the door glass is tinted or not. Even a light tint goes a long way in preserving the fabric and plastic.

If you have a Pull-a-Part place near you, might wander around a few times checking out steering wheels and rear bumpers. And an outside chance at a OEM spare tire carrier. Be patient. Just because there were slim pickings this week doesn't mean you won't find your perfect bumper two weeks from now. And you might find some parts to clean up your engine bay.

There is a smaller OEM step bumper option. Had one on my 75. Swapped for the larger one to allow for a custom hitch. Put the old one out for big trash day years ago.

Nothing says you can't use the Ford as a practice vehicle for your DIY painting skills.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 98Murray

Thanks for all the replies everyone!!

The running boards are not needed and I have been planning on removing them.

Simple & effective clutter removal will clean it up nicely.

I no longer have my pop up camper and I only tow a small 5.5x10 utility trailer with not much weight. I have been planning on removing the receiver hitch because of this and also because it gets in the way of my spare tire and I am tired of carrying it in the bed and would like to put it back under the truck.

I have thought about getting a different rear bumper but I still want a step bumper. The bumper I have works fine but its a bit big on the truck I think.

'Hidden' receiver hitches are available & keep the receiver portion tucked discreetly behind the license plate on a Sport/Burb/Blazer bumper set-up. I'm not 100% positive, but it seems the OE spare location could still be utilized as well.

I have planned on getting some Cooper Cobra white letter tires for her. What size should I get though? I am thinking of possibly lowering the truck just a tad little bit. I am also undecided on the wheels. I dont want some massive 18s or 20s. I like the factory size and I may step up to like 16s or possiby even 17s if I found a nice look. I need to poke around this forum a bit to find some other wheels. I know mine need repainted and I am not the biggest fan of the massive 3" wide trim rings that love to fly off every time I hit a rumble strip on the highway.

88-98 15" GM truck wheel trim rings work very well on the earlier Truck Ralleys (or almost any 15" steelie) & are <2" deep. I like the way they only cover the outer lip of the wheels & allow you to see the depth when running deeper dish/staggered width wheels. I'm 100% not a fan of white-walls or raised white letters. Clean & black works the best IMO but to each his own. 15" wheels work. Larger diameter wheels can also look good depending on the combo.

I have thought of a bed cover but with all the diamond plate it has going on back there I am not sure if I want to leave it exposed or cover it all up.

I am not a huge fan of sliding rear windows so that probably wont change.

I do need a new front valance since mine is missing. I also like the factory grille quite a lot honestly.

I'm no fan of diamond tread plate but again to each his own. No diamond plate = less clutter though.
Not a fan of sliding rear windows either. OE glass is always clean looking & less prone for leakage.
New front OEM valance + any factory grille pieces if needed & it will always look sharp. Aftermarket grilles can be trendy as far as visuals.

Originally the truck was solid blue but the original owner had it repainted in the late 90's early 2000's and had the gray in the middle added. Personally I like it. Most all the other C10s around here are solid color and I have one of very few two tones. I agree it could be a different shade and it could look better but a repaint is a bit out of the budget right now.

I prefer solid colors but a clean 2-tone is just that..... Clean. It looks fine 2-tone/as is. The colors seem to work well from what I see on my monitor.

[WyattTX]

That thing is already different unique, and unusual as it sits. It's a stock unmolested square. I say ditch the running boards and leave it alone, or sell it to buy a truck you like better. Do what you want, but that truck has great potential collector appeal in it's all stock form.

[cochino12]

Nice truck. Sell me the rear bumper

[98Murray]

Thanks for all the info and advice yall!! I definitely have some great ideas now!